video game industry

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Aussie Game Business Gives Aussie Movie Business A Good Thumping
The Economist Considers "Recession-Proof" Games
Game Stock Prices Set to Jump in '06

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Self_Destructo
01/20/09

In reply to Aussie Game Business Gives Aussie Movie Business A Good Thumping
Hopefully all that family video game buying will convince those fat cats upstairs to give us an R18+ rating. A man can dream...a man can dream.
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DrunkAus
01/20/09

@Self_Destructo: Not with Atkinson in office that's for damn sure. If I remember correctly the last time there was discussion on a R18 rating all the Attorney Generals except for Atkinson voted yes, too bad its not a majority wins thing or else we would have seen a R18 rating a while ago now.
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CatboyMac's angry girlfriend
01/20/09

In reply to Aussie Game Business Gives Aussie Movie Business A Good Thumping
Not really hard when games cost so damn much.
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DrunkAus
01/20/09

@CatboyMac's angry girlfriend: I second that, games are just so damn expensive in Aus, which is why I import but that itself has become expensive in the past oh say 3 - 4 months with the economy gone to shit.
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DrunkAus
01/20/09

@CatboyMac's angry girlfriend: I second that, games are just so damn expensive in Australia, which is why I import but that itself has become expensive in the last oh say 3 - 4 months, with the economy gone to shit.
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DrunkAus
01/20/09

@CatboyMac's angry girlfriend: I second that, games in Australia are just so damn expensive, which is why I import when I can but that itself has become expensive in the last oh say 3 - 4 months, with the economy gone to shit and all.
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DrunkAus
01/20/09

@DrunkAus: Gah wtf? Damn slow internets making me post 3 times! Sorry for the spam peoples.
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Chalkdust
12/21/08

In reply to The Economist Considers "Recession-Proof" Games
I'm not entirely sure I can buy into this idea of games being entirely recession proof. I wouldn't root against the industry, but it will be interesting to see how next year shapes out overall as things presumably get worse or stay largely the same. I think sales numbers from this year can be misleading, because the economy was considered to be in such pain all year, and really it seems unlikely for every year to repeat what this fall 2008 brought us in terms of games.

Also, how much is the Wii skewing things? Had the Wii not taken off as it has, would things look so rosy?

I dunno.. I think if things get bad enough, people will eventually cut expenses in most all areas. Even if it means just buying old, bargain price games, that's saving money. If fewer games sell at $60 that would surely have an effect. Just my rambling thoughts.

I like it that a quote from the maker of a console exclusive is followed up with a reference to another exclusive on the competing console.

Well duh. Developers aren't necessarily fanboys, they play games on other consoles.. Maybe Sony would prefer Mm not discuss such things, but for a gamer who cares.
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Xer0Ph0kus
12/21/08

@ChalkdustTorture: Look where the quotes are. MM said one thing, the article continues on with the author referring to another game from another system
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Chalkdust
12/21/08

@Xer0Ph0kus: I guess if I misread that, the article doesn't really make it clear where Evans' quote begins and ends. Bah.
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mlubczyn
12/21/08

In reply to The Economist Considers "Recession-Proof" Games
I love how they say that the Wii gamers are less committed than HD gamers. As if those HD gamers will be playing forever and buy console after console while Wii gamers will not. It's BS, Wii is bringing "NEW" gamers into the fold while absorbing a lot of the old. 70% of Wii owners were former PS2 owners. The Wii is expanding the market, the 360/PS3 are not. The PS3/360 combined don't even have half the userbase of the PS2. How is the market supposed to sustain itself with a shrinking userbase? $75 games?

These HD companies are selling 360/PS3 games for $60 plus DLC and they still can't make a profit while Nintendo and Wii 3rd parties can sell games for $50 and make a hefty profit.

The Wii is going to do just fine, it's Microsoft and Sony that should be worried.
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Chalkdust
12/21/08

@mlubczyn: I think when people say that about Wii gamers, they AREN'T referring to former PS2 owners, gamers who own other consoles as well, etc. Moreso speaking to a family or maybe older people who might buy a Wii, Wii Fit, Mario Kart, and call it a day for awhile until they feel they want something new. In other words people jumping into gaming for the first time would be less likely to be following release dates of games, buying them up.

As for the rest of your post there's not much to disagree with, but I don't think most of that was being debated against..
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Radkeen
12/21/08

In reply to The Economist Considers "Recession-Proof" Games
I would actually think deep RPGs would benefit in a recession. I'd be curious to see if Blizzard sees more monthly subscriptions during high unemployment times. People are at home all day, bored, and seemingly could engulf themselves in a game like that.

Other than those games, I think a recession would hurt. If it's just a standard 10-20 hour game, I can see how people would pass. I could see the focus being put on 1 or 2 games in their arsenal with long playing times.
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Chalkdust
12/21/08

@Radkeen: That's actually a good question/point. My gripes with WoW aside, it's an enjoyable game and it's cheaper to play that than keep buying new games all the time. Granted, if you tend to wait for bargain bin prices or deals, then maybe this doesn't apply, but $15 or less a month for a lot of gameplay is a better deal than people might realize.
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dozerking
12/21/08

In reply to The Economist Considers "Recession-Proof" Games
i love this. when it's console gaming, it's recession, when it's pc, it's dying. LBP, Dead Space and bunch of others have failed to sell in the millions with weak sales, while others have sold multi millions. I think this the recession is cover for whoever needs it.
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ShadowOdin of dubious snowiness
12/21/08

@dozerking: No-one is really blaming their sales on the recession as much as they blame them for being released close to Gears 2, Fallout 3 and Fable II
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mariospants
12/21/08

In reply to The Economist Considers "Recession-Proof" Games
As I pointed out in a recent comment that probably got buried at the end of a huge comments list (and the Economist got it right): EA and other companies are taking the excuse of a bad economy to skim the fat, thus taking blame off of what would otherwise be considered bad management decisions.

It's actually kind of shameful, because their planning (i.e. so close to the holidays) couldn't be more scroogish.
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Kobun
12/21/08

@mariospants: Likewise, games are recession proof, but no company is immune to the planning and decisions of its management. Midway is abysmal because it is a poorly managed company loaded with debt; the recession has only highlighted this fact with the declining credit crisis.
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Knoxximus ver. 5.66
12/21/08

In reply to The Economist Considers "Recession-Proof" Games
It is Nintendo who is indeed recession proof it seems....
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Mr Smee
12/21/08

In reply to The Economist Considers "Recession-Proof" Games
Video games are recession-proof? Try telling that to Free Radical... :(
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subnet6
12/21/08

@MrSmee: Ok, amend it to, GOOD video games are recession proof. ;)
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RRRansom
12/21/08

@subnet6: Further amendment, GOOD SELLING video games are recession proof. :(
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subnet6
12/21/08

@RRRansom: I stand corrected! :)
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